As the Guyana Harpy Eagles celebrated their successful defense of the West Indies Championship, a darker subplot emerged from the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced disciplinary action against three members of the triumphant squad—Veerasammy Permaul, Kevlon Anderson, and Ronaldo Alimohamed—following separate breaches of the CWI Code of Conduct during their climactic match against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.
These infractions, all deemed Level 2 offenses, cast a shadow over what had otherwise been a stellar campaign for the Harpy Eagles.
Permaul’s breach: Altering the ball’s condition
Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul was the first to be cited, receiving a fine equivalent to 75 percent of his match fee. The incident occurred on the opening day of play, where Permaul was found guilty of “changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket”—a serious allegation that falls under Article 2.1–2.5, Paragraph 3.8 of the CWI Code.
On-field umpires Christopher Taylor and Leslie Reifer Jr. reported the infraction at the close of the day’s play. Permaul, acknowledging his actions, admitted guilt and accepted the penalty proposed by match referee Michael Ragoonath, thereby waiving the need for a formal hearing.
Anderson follows suit with similar offense
Two days later, during the Red Force’s second innings, top-order batter Kevlon Anderson was charged with a nearly identical offense. He, too, was found guilty of manipulating the ball’s condition, resulting in a harsher penalty—90 percent of his match fee. Like Permaul, Anderson accepted the sanction without contest. In both incidents, the condition of the ball was deemed altered, prompting the umpires to replace it and offer the batting side a choice in the selection of a new ball.
Alimohamed’s conduct crosses the line
Meanwhile, fast bowler Ronaldo Alimohamed found himself at the center of a separate disciplinary storm. Charged with “throwing the ball (or any item of cricket equipment) at or near a player or official in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner,” Alimohamed initially denied the accusation.
The incident, also occurring on day one, led to a formal hearing with match referee Ragoonath. After the hearing concluded, Alimohamed was found guilty and fined 65 percent of his match fee—an increase from the standard 60 percent penalty typically levied for this type of breach. The violation was deemed to fall under Article 2.1–2.5; Paragraph 3.6 of the CWI Code.
A reminder of the stakes
Level 2 breaches under the CWI Code of Conduct carry serious consequences, including fines ranging from 50 to 100 percent of the player’s match fee and the potential for match suspensions. While none of the Guyana Harpy Eagles players were suspended, the cumulative sanctions underline the importance of upholding the spirit and laws of the game—even in moments of high stakes.
As the Harpy Eagles bask in the glow of their title defense, these disciplinary episodes serve as a sobering reminder: championship glory comes with a responsibility to preserve the integrity of the sport.
